Everything old is new again
RICHMOND, Calif. - Far from Hollywood's maddening crowd, Pixar Animation embodies the notion of a film fun factory, from its animated telephone system to a display of "vintage" playthings plugging its new movie, "Toy Story 2."

Lots of new films on tap for holidays
LOS ANGELES - The following preview has been approved for all audiences: It's the holiday film season, and it's a Christmas grab-bag with something for everyone, from talking toys to thoughtful social commentary.

Reba keeps riding the wave on albums, concerts, movies
WEST HOLLYWOOD, Calif. - She may have missed out on playing the Unsinkable Molly Brown in "Titanic," but the unsinkable Reba McEntire keeps sailing along with million-selling albums, sold-out concerts and the occasional movie.

Entertainment Briefs
Amarillo Little Theatre is looking for two men to play nearly two dozen roles in the theater's upcoming touring show.

Drink mixes perfect gift
It's hard to beat a warm cup of tea on a cold winter night. Or try a mug of hot cocoa or flavored coffee to take out the chill from the inside, while a crackling fire works to take off the chill from the outside. PM

Maintain weight during holidays with well-planned strategies
It's the holidays. Yes, tomorrow is the beginning of six weeks worth of "holiday spreads" consisting of more food and sweets than usual. The holiday season also brings the potential for another kind of holiday "spread": weight gain for most Americans.

Hotlines, Web sites help cooks
Toll-free telephone services and Web sites are available to help answer cooking queries during holiday preparation times. Here are some of them. PM

Accolades
Air Force Airman Lori M. Dingis has graduated from basic military training at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio.

United Way assistant team leaders provide mentoring
Assistant team leaders are the volunteers who have worked as loaned executives in past campaigns and proven themselves as volunteer leaders for the United Way. They are assigned to mentor loaned executives.

Under Construction
The following information about construction on city streets and state highways and work on utility projects is provided to Friends & Neighbors readers based on information from city and state officials.

Burglar Alert
Burglaries on Nov. 12 were in the 800 block of South Alabama Street, the 2400 block of South Cleveland Street, the 900 block of North Hayden Street, the 1100 block of South Virginia Street, the 5300 block of Briar Street, the 100 block of South Georgia Street, the 800 block of South Prospect Street, the 300 block of North Lamar Street, the 4400 block of Interstate 27, the 200 block of Northwest 15th Avenue, the 90 block of North Virginia Street, the 1100 block of Fritch Highway, the 300 block of North Independence Street, the 1000 block of Southeast Third Avenue, the 6900 block of Hurst Road and the 1300 block of Bluebell Street.

Team Sports Photos
The Amarillo Globe-News Friends & Neighbors section publishes championship team sports photographs as a free public service.

YMCA Notes
The Downtown YMCA is forming a coed adult volleyball league that will play its games on Saturdays and Sundays beginning Dec. 4.

Volunteers
Learning to read can be difficult at times. The Amarillo Area Adult Literacy Council needs volunteer teachers to tutor reading and math.

Students hold County Fair
Bushland Elementary School second-graders know how to throw an upscale hoe-down. The school's annual County Fair featured more art than farm goods as students enticed fair-goers to sample the wares at everything from jewelry-making to face painting.

United Way team leaders selected
In the United Way campaign, team leaders are seasoned volunteers responsible for development and implementation of training for campaign volunteers assigned to JumpStart companies and to train loaned executives.

Youth division educates students about community, school needs
In 1991, United Way of Amarillo and Canyon implemented a new division to the annual campaign called the Youth Division. A total of 46 Amarillo and Canyon schools were involved in the pilot project. The students involved came from all age groups, ranging from junior high to high school.

Blocks needed
A brick plaza in front of Tascosa High School, named for Dr. Hugh Sticksel and Bill Sticksel, brothers who died months apart, is in need of memorial bricks, said Laurel Gerald of the THS excellence council.

Bicyclists join in mountain bike race
Local members of the National Off Road Bike Association recently took advantage of the unseasonably warm fall weather by competing in mountain bike races at Palo Duro Canyon State Park.

City champs
The White Sox, a 9- and 10-year-old YMCA baseball team, recently captured the fall postseason tournament championship in the Mays Division.

Ag Appreciation Breakfast scheduled
All too often we take for granted the many blessings we have as Americans. Our virtual unlimited access to high quality, healthy and good tasting food is one of them.

ASCA Menus
Lunches are served from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. daily at the Amarillo Senior Citizens Association, 1300 S. Polk St.

Take a hint from students - be thankful for what you have
We all could learn a lot from college students. Most don't complain that their homes are too small, even though they may be one-bedroom apartments or 10-by-12 spaces shared with roommates. They don't talk about wanting to remodel their homes, install sprinkler systems or buy new sports utility vehicles.

Leading the way
About 500 Amarillo area students gathered at the Amarillo Civic Center in October to participate in Youth Leadership Day and have led the way in their campuses' United Way fund-raisers ever since.

Groom welcomes bid to avenge playoff loss
It will be one year to the day when Groom returns to Floydada at 6 p.m. Saturday to face the same school that unceremoniously bounced it from the state six-man playoffs last season.

Bulletin Board
Firefighters don't usually wear business suits or bathrobes but these did. PM

Judge OKs amended request for hog farm review
BEAVER, Okla. - Oklahoma district Judge Greg Zigler on Wednesday allowed an amendment to a request for judicial review to Seaboard Farms, thwarting a state attempt to dismiss the petition.

Courthouse controversy continues
Randall County Precinct 2 Commissioner Gene Parker summed up the 1909 Randall County courthouse controversy, set to go before voters as part of the $8.5 million facility expansion bond election Dec. 14, with one statement.

Action plan addresses six county issues
A four-year Randall County action plan - the culmination of issues and concerns identified by community leaders earlier this year - was unveiled Tuesday at the annual meeting of the Randall County Extension Program Development Council.

One family's holiday
Amarillo native and astronaut Rick Husband and his family sounded a familiar chord when they were asked what brings them from Houston to Amarillo for Thanksgiving.

Randall County grand jury indicts 15
A Randall County grand jury indicted 15 people Wednesday. Following are the names, ages, charges and dates of alleged offenses for those indicted or re-indicted, as released by the Randall County Criminal District Attorney's Office:

Head of SPS named to post
The creation of Xcel Energy Inc. by the pending merger of Denver-based New Century Energies and Minneapolis-based Northern States Power prompted an announcement of the new company's leadership team.

Wilks on list for Xcel
David Wilks, New Century Energies president, delivery services, is among executives of NCE and Northern States Power Co. named to top leadership positions in the pending merger of the two companies to create Xcel Energy Inc., it was announced Tuesday. PM

Motel still without natural gas
Residents of the Woods Inn, a cottage-style motel at 4600 E. Amarillo Blvd., began their third week today without natural gas.

Grass fire darkens sky
Smoke from a grass fire fueled by thick dry brush and fanned by swirling winds formed a large mushroom-shaped cloud northwest of the city Tuesday.

Timeless Tales: 'Wayfarer' captivates
Be wary of strangers, but not unkind, may be the message that was given to the Shamrock Chamber of Commerce on Nov. 24, 1954, according to an Amarillo Daily News story on that date.

M&H workforce restructured
Mason & Hanger Corp., the prime contractor at Pantex, announced a restructuring of its workforce at the Amarillo plant Tuesday that will affect 70 to 90 employees through voluntary reassignments or separations.

Potter grand jury indicts 21
A Potter County grand jury handed up 21 indictments Tuesday. Following are names, ages, charges and dates of alleged offenses for those indicted or re-indicted, as released by the 47th District Clerk's office.

Survey examines families
A new survey finds only about a quarter of U.S. households contain married couples with children - a trend that may mean more than half of the nation's children won't be living with both parents after the turn of the century. PM

Mack's Tracks: Take time to pray for those we lost
Thanksgiving is a special time of year. Not only is it the day most folks make every effort to "go to Grandma's," I believe most people do take time to reflect upon the good things we have to be thankful for.

Editorial: Mothers and fathers should be good sports
A youth athletic league in Florida is taking sportsmanship to a new level - to the parents. The Jupiter-Tequesta Athletic Association will require parents to take an hour-long ethics course on sportsmanship beginning Jan. 1.

Editorial: Let's no panic
Last week, an 18-month-old child was bitten by a coyote pup at the Amarillo City Zoo. The child was sitting on a split-rail fence, which surrounds the wire fence that keeps the animals away from the public. PM

Letters to the Editor
I have been through one of the most frustrating experiences of my life during the past few weeks.

Aikman vs. Marino? QBs nursing injuries
Six years after Leon Lett's "Lett it Be" game, Miami goes back to Dallas on Thanksgiving for what's supposed to be a matchup of two of the NFL's premier quarterbacks, Dan Marino and Troy Aikman.

Tech women baffle rice with defense
LUBBOCK - Offensive sluggishness and defensive dominance. That's the early trend this season for Texas Tech, and fans hoping for something else will likely be disappointed.

Group requires parents to take an ethics course
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) - As president of a youth sports league, Jeff Leslie has seen parents thrown out of the stands, coaches kicked off the sidelines and kids reduced to tears from too much badgering.

Jimmy vs. Jerry: Time heals relationship
IRVING (AP) - The way Jerry Jones and Jimmy Johnson have been talking about each other lately, don't be surprised if these former adversaries embrace at the 50-yard line of Texas Stadium on Thursday.

Raiders to visit Corpus Christi after tough loss
LUBBOCK - Anybody who listened to Texas Tech men's coach James Dickey or his players this week and expected to hear anyone wax poetic about the virtues of a moral victory against Indiana last week didn't exactly get what they were seeking.

College results
MENHow the top 25 teams in The Associated Press' college basketball poll fared Wednesday:

Aggies family tradition rich
Former students say Texas A&M is a rarity. Those who go there become part of an extended family, and now that family grieves for the 12 killed in a collapse of a bonfire logs.

Bengals QB Smith may be out for year
Bengals QB Smith may be out for year CINCINNATI (AP) - Rookie quarterback Akili Smith of the Cincinnati Bengals might not play again this year because of a sprained toe.

Panhandle State starts search for new coach
GOODWELL, Okla. - Oklahoma Panhandle State is looking for a head football coach to replace Jon Norris, who resigned recently to become head coach of the Tulsa Talons of the Arena Football League.

Much at stake for TCU in finale
FORT WORTH (AP) - TCU is trying to ensure its postseason fate, and LaDainian Tomlinson is going for the NCAA rushing title.

Weary Greyhounds fall to Highlands
LAS VEGAS, N.M. - Four New Mexico Highlands players scored in double digits to lead the Cowboys to a 102-67 victory against Eastern New Mexico on Tuesday night.

Penn State going to Alamo Bowl
STATE COLLEGE, Pa. (AP) - For the first time in nine years, Penn State Coach Joe Paterno won't be celebrating New Year's Day coaching on the sidelines at a bowl game.

Tech's next coach doesn't have to be marquee name
LUBBOCK - John Montford has read the unsolicited media advice from across Texas which, in effect, compares Texas Tech to an ill-fated race horse: Take a bad step, you'll break down. Make the wrong hire, and Tech will be Baylor.

'Horns regrouped after loss in opener
AUSTIN - Three punts went backward. Two free safeties went down to season-ending injuries, and a Texas team in desperate need of an identity had none.

It's strike three for Phillips after release
SANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP) - Lawrence Phillips' stormy tenure with the San Francisco 49ers ended Tuesday when the team waived him. Phillips was still serving a three-game suspension for defying the coaching staff at the time of his release.

A&M: Bonfire safety procedures followed
COLLEGE STATION (AP) - Texas A&M University officials Wednesday rejected a former professor's speculation that last week's deadly bonfire collapse occurred because students failed to implement proven safety features.

Exxon, Mobil offer to divest more stations to win merger
DALLAS (AP) - Exxon Corp. and Mobil Corp. are offering to sell or break ties to 15 percent of their national network of service stations to win government approval for their $81 billion merger, according to industry sources.

Mexico wants U.S. to investigate death
DEL RIO (AP) - A Mexican official is asking state and federal authorities to investigate the death of a 16-year-old Mexican boy shot as he and his companions crossed the Rio Grande after an alleged burglary attempt in Del Rio.

State engineering board to examine bonfire stack
AUSTIN - Questions about design and oversight of the Aggie Bonfire prompted the state's engineering board to examine Texas construction law to see whether it applies to Texas A&M University's 90-year-old tradition, officials said Tuesday.

UT dean resigns over museum plan
AUSTIN (AP) - Battles over plans for the proposed University of Texas' Blanton Museum of Art have led to the resignations of the School of Architecture dean and the well-known international firm hired to design the museum, putting the $60 million project in limbo.

Last of bonfire victims laid to rest
CORPUS CHRISTI (AP) - Lucas Kimmel and Jeremy Frampton, among 12 people killed last week as they worked to build Texas A&M University's traditional bonfire, were remembered Tuesday in funeral services in Texas and California.

Blanton Museum namesake disappointed
AUSTIN (AP) - The namesake behind the Blanton Museum of Art proposed for the University of Texas campus in Austin has said he is disappointed with the battle over plans for the $60 million facility.

Bush asks Mexico to reconsider car tax
AUSTIN (AP) - Gov. George W. Bush has asked Mexican officials to reconsider plans to require deposits of up to $800 for vehicles traveling into their country.

ACU asks forgiveness
The president of Abilene Christian University has formally asked forgiveness for past admission policies that kept the Abilene school off-limits to African-Americans from its inception in 1906 to its integration in the mid-1960s.

Bush names 2 West Texans to panel
AUSTIN - Gov. George W. Bush has appointed two West Texans to the panel that oversees pari-mutuel wagering on horse and greyhound racing in Texas.

State considering historic mansion sale
AUSTIN (AP) - State officials are considering selling the historic Pease Mansion, which former Lt. Gov. Bob Bullock called "the third most important building in Texas."

Tortilla business growing rapido
AUSTIN - Sixty years ago Jose Guerra converted his garage into a tiny factory where he used family recipes to make tortillas and other Mexican foods to sell to his neighbors.

Russian HIV cases surge
MOSCOW - Registered HIV cases in Russia doubled to more than 23,000 in less than a year, with intravenous drug users accounting for the vast majority of the increase, a U.N. official said Wednesday.

Interior to re-propose oil royalty valuation system
A week after Congress agreed to lift a ban that has kept the federal government from imposing higher royalties on oil taken from public lands, the Interior Department indicated Tuesday it will move quickly to implement a new fee structure.

Testing officials say watches had answers
NEW YORK (AP) - Some would-be truck drivers had time on their side as they took their commercial driver's license exam: Their wrist watches were etched with the correct answers, authorities said.

Women arrested for domestic violence increasing
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) - There was a time when police officers handled a domestic violence call by telling angry men to take a walk and cool off. They still do, but the walk is straight to jail. And increasingly, it's the woman who takes the hike.

Cities consider suing state to recover money
OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) - A check by Oklahoma City auditors trying to find out why the city's sales tax growth had flattened led to a 1993 state law that poured $37 million into the state's general fund instead of back to the cities and counties.

Government battles workers' comp fraud
WASHINGTON - Albert Slugocki collected more than $300,000 in federal workers' compensation for a disabling back injury when investigators received an anonymous tip: He was leading adventure tours on the Amazon River.

Survey shows change in families
CHICAGO - The percentage of American households made up of married couples with children dropped to 26 percent in 1998 from 45 percent in the early 70s, a survey found.

Jail head called 'laughingstock'
SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) - A judge said people are referring to the Taos County jail director as the laughingstock of New Mexico after a man accused of murder walked away from the lockup while on work detail last week.

Flood victims thankful to be alive
PRINCEVILLE, N.C. (AP) - After losing their homes and just about everything they own to Hurricane Floyd's floodwaters, people in Princeville have plenty to be thankful for this Thanksgiving, it turns out.

Nun sings out against superstition
ROME (AP) - Fighting nuns' bad rap with rap, a nun in northern Italy recorded a CD to fight an Italian superstition that the good sisters bring bad luck.

NTSB says alarms sounded before Stewart's plane crash
WASHINGTON (AP) - The cockpit voice recorder recovered from the crash of golfer Payne Stewart's jet contains no voices, but federal investigators said Tuesday that alarms, including one signaling cabin pressure problems, sounded before his Learjet went nose down in a South Dakota cow pasture.

Fourfold increase in Pilgrims expected
RAMALLAH, West Bank (AP) - Palestinians predicted up to 60,000 pilgrims will attend Christmas celebrations in Bethlehem, but a senior Palestinian official accused Israel of trying to put barriers on the road from Jerusalem to the West Bank town where Jesus was born.

Nasdaq hits another record
NEW YORK (AP) - Technology stocks bounded higher Wednesday, driving the Nasdaq composite index to a new record high and lifting the broader market in a quiet session ahead of the Thanksgiving holiday.

Authorities link escapee to killing
TAOS, N.M. (AP) - A man being held for murder when he slipped away from a work detail was linked to the death of a Taos man found shot in the head Sunday east of town.

Congressman promises last-ditch effort to stop Mexico car tax
WASHINGTON (AP) - As Mexico prepares to implement a controversial plan that would levy refundable deposits of up to $800 for U.S.-registered cars that travel into the Mexican interior, a Texas congressman said Tuesday he will turn to the White House in a last-ditch bid to halt the proposal.

Bush denies his campaign questioned McCain's temper
GREENVILLE, S.C. (AP) - Republican presidential candidate George W. Bush said Tuesday he would be angry if he found anyone in his campaign questioning rival John McCain's temper and fitness for office as a former Vietnam prisoner of war.

Two workers die on highway
Two men working to repair a paving machine were struck and killed at a construction site on U.S. 62 in McClain County, the Oklahoma Highway Patrol said.

U.N. welcomes return of funding
UNITED NATIONS (AP) - The United Nations Population Fund on Tuesday welcomed the restoration of U.S. funding to the agency, which was approved last week by Congress.

Colombians criticize Viagra ruling
BOGOTA, Colombia (AP) - Though certainly not averse to more sex, some Colombians are surprised by a high court ruling that requires the government to pay for some men's Viagra.

Escapee earns dinner at Taos cafe
TAOS, N.M. (AP) - A man being held on murder charges who slipped away from a jail work detail apparently made it through his first couple of days on the lam with the help of unsuspecting strangers - even earning a meal at a cafe by cleaning tables.

President makes appeal for tolerance in Kosovo
UROSEVAC, Yugoslavia (AP) - Five months after NATO bombs broke Serbia's grip on Kosovo, President Clinton urged Kosovo's schoolchildren to forgive oppression and told U.S. peacekeeping soldiers their example can help overcome the sectarian violence that still grips the province.